American Girl Bistro

Tomorrow is Lucy's 3rd Birthday. We started celebrating today. Last night after KBT I felt kind of bad and had a hard time falling asleep so I ended up reading until 2am. So this morning I had a hard time getting up and had to rush to get to a baby shower for a sister in our ward who is having her first. Lu and I went and it was fun. We only stayed an hour and then came home so we could go to Dallas and celebrate Lucy's birthday at the American Girl Store. She loves dolls and babies and I thought she'd enjoy picking a new outfit out for her doll.
I was right.

It took awhile to drive there and it was crowded when we arrived but still it was worth it. It's kind of like a doll museum. Everything is set up so cute and you can touch and look and play. Lu must have spent 20 minutes playing with this cute little kitchen until I pulled her away.

We had lunch at the bistro. It was yummy and fun. For dessert H had warm milk and cookies. They cater to little girls so much and it's really fun for them. Even the dolls get menus and high chairs:)

Lu got a banana split with candles in it and the whole staff came to sing Happy Birthday to her. She was a little apprehensive about it at the time but has been talking about it ever since and saying "lets sing happy birthday to me again", which we have been doing.

Here she is with Bitty in her new outfit. We also got a couple outfits for our AG dolls. Toys come and go around here and mostly I don't care. Things they love seem to be better taken care of but one thing I am sick about is we had a lot of really cute and nice AG clothes when the big girls were smaller that Nana got them and a lot of the pieces are missing now. It makes me sad because they were so nice and I know Lu would have loved them. Maybe we'll sew some more.

KBT

Friday was busy. We cleaned up in the morning, then spent the afternoon at Chick Fill-a and Target. After school I started cooking and at 6pm our friends came over for Killer Bunnies.

Papa and J left for the movies, they don't like to play and S went out with friends. After we ate and set the kids loose to run amok we set up our bunny mat and commenced the festivities.

This was a marathon long game. We played for 4 hours and 12 minutes with Teresa emerging victorious. We went through a package of oreos, two bags of chips, a pan of apple crisp with yummy ice cream, a 1 lb bag of m&ms and some brownies ....and a tub of tums.

We ganged up on the Smiths because they have won the last 3 months in a row...but then I felt bad after so I am lone bunny from now on. I guess I care more about friendly fun than competition.

The kids played Wii, ate, played guys, set up a train, ran around, ate some more, then collapsed in front of a movie.

It was a good Friday nights. And, fun news, the Cooks are expecting an "O" now!

strange things

Today is always a weird day for me. I would have been married 21 years, if I hadn't gotten divorced after 8 of those years had passed. We eloped, to Lake Tahoe, not Las Vegas (thank goodness) although I don't know why that makes it better. It's a little less tacky I guess. It was snowy and pretty and we were YOUNG, I was 18 and he was 23. Thinking back I can hardly believe the justice of the peace or whoever it was that married us did. It wasn't really a particularly happy day. I felt guilty and it was strange although I did love him and I thought things would be fine. I never really wanted a big wedding so that part I didn't miss but I was sad that we weren't getting married in the temple (we couldn't) and that I wasn't doing things right. We did end up having an open house a few weeks later, which neither of us wanted but our parents insisted upon. Even now, looking back on it, it seems weird. I don't really think about him often and when I do the word "husband" doesn't pop into my head. I would say I regret it, and I do but that seems the wrong word somehow. The result of a very unhappy, somewhat short, never should have been marriage is three awesome, wonderful, beautiful girls who I have never regretted for a split second and who are the greatest blessings to me.


Still I sometimes wonder what my life would have been like, who I would have been, if I had not made that mistake so many years ago. And I try really hard to keep my kids from doing the same. When you keep the commandments you keep your options open to have what ever kind of life you want. When you don't you live with the consequences for a lifetime...and so do those you love. It's as simple as that. I have felt great sorrow over my bad choices, and have felt the sweet peace that comes from forgiveness. There are lessons learned in a lifetime of living that are hard but valuable.



What I wish I could somehow make my kids understand, and the youth I work with, and really anyone who would care to listen is that the only freedom you have is by strict obedience to Heavenly Father's commands. Once you chose a different path, even if you repent and come back, there are consequences that you never can escape. Some are small, some are not so small. Even if it's a little thing like not being able to say "no I never saw a rated R movie" or "no I never went to a party" when someone asks. I would wish I could say no, clearly and with strength. To sat "I know it's hard not to go, but I didn't when I was young and I know you can make the same choice." That is such a better thing to say than well I did, but you shouldn't. In this case the choice I made has a big impact on me still. I am divorced, or was. My DH has step kids (and that's a complicated relationship that I won't even delve into right now). The little kids know I was married before and that the big girls have another dad and that seems weird to them. There are emotional scars and heartaches that we all have suffered from because of that....more on this topic later, right now I am behind and sitting on this so off it goes until I can write more coherently about it.

It's kind of like being a BORG

I have a big family. Not only do some people consider 6 children to be a lot, but my family of origin is big. DH's family is not so big but when we add them into the mix there are a lot of us. It is very fun, and crazy :) We keep in touch with one another pretty well and I usually know what's going on with everyone. Ups and downs are shared by all. I sometimes wonder what people do who have less chaos in their lives. When I was reading Eat Pray Live I kept thinking "who has a year to meditate and find oneself?" Anyway, I guess she did so that's good...I'm looking forward to having an hour to fold clothes and watch TV at the time without having to stop to get someone a drink :)

So, what's my family up to, today.
Papa is at work. He got two classes to teach at the last minute. I think he's glad. I am glad for him because I think he'd have been bored with nothing to do all spring. He's always working and cleaning and doing genealogy. I am excited for him and Grandma to go on their mission. I know it's a life long dream of his. If I were him I'd be anxious to get going. I wonder where they'll go, it's the cause of much speculation around here :)
Mom doesn't feel well and at this moment is taking a nap. She has a tooth ache and has been having trouble with her back lately.
DH is at work. They are gearing up to start GVT and he's excited about that. Someday his job will probably move us but right now we're happy to be employed and that the plane is doing well.
My littlest sister Em is still without a car since she wrecked hers last month. She's been looking. Also she is having some trouble with her teeth. And has an ulcer on her eye. (this is sounding like one of mom's Christmas letters :))
Andrea is working. She graduated from beauty school last month although she has a little class work left to do. She's recovering well from her appendectomy.
If I wrote this yesterday I would have said Anna and Ama are doing great. They are in the new house and looking forward to our visit next week, instead I have to say that Amadeo got laid off yesterday. It was so unexpected. He's a hard worker and I am sure he'll find something soon, still it's a shock and I am sad for them. I hope our visit won't be a burden now. :(
MSV and her family are finally well after having strep run through their family and run through again. She got a unexpected refund in the mail! yeah and they are getting ready to go on several trips while little M goes to dance competitions so it was good timing. It'll be a fun busy spring for them. She is teaching two 4H classes this semester and all the kids are taking classes too so that's fun :)
Michael (the one I talk to the least, I don't know why) is going on a cruise, somewhere in the Caribbean. I heard a rumor that he's dating Karlie again and we ALL hope he'll marry her. Or anyone really :)
Alec and Kelly are going to Jamaica, lucky ducks. He got a great bonus this year and off they go. They were supposed to cruise with A2 and us but we all know how that went so I guess they decided to do something anyway. Hopefully one of these years we'll all go on a fun vacation together. Katie is 15! Wow! She's a cutie and smart and fun. They'll miss her when she goes to college...if they let her go :)
Dani is finishing beauty school in two weeks! I am excited for her. Greg still has a year to go and then he's going to go on to do something else. I am not sure what. I was talking to her yesterday and suggested he follow in Uncle Alec's foot steps and become a PA. It's less schooling and still pays well. She said he doesn't like blood, which might be a problem:) Anyway I am sure he'll figure out just the right thing to do. In the meantime I am so glad that Dani is done and they are doing well...now hopefully they'll get their apartment and not be homeless.
S is getting ready to take the ACT. She's working and spends time with her friends and doing homework. This week I 'm going to teach her how to drive to Jiffy Lube and get an oil change.
J is also busy...trying to convince me to let her go to SnowBall (I told her if she had all A's but I haven't seen the report card yet), to get her a cell phone, to let her buy a pet :) She's busy dancing and venturing and just started piano lessons. She and S both need to work on and finish their personal progress.
H is sad because we are going to be gone during the spelling bee. She is exited for Killer Bunnies tomorrow night and is reading several books, which is good. She wants to take a horse break and play volley ball and is working on her orange belt in Karate.
E is waiting for soccer to start, he knows his phone number and is ready to start AR tests at school, which will be fun.
G is ready for her birthday and never wants to leave preschool. She uses the potty sometimes and I am sure when we get back will quickly be trained.
Abba and Nana are recovered from their trip down here:) They are house hunting..although I don't know how seriously and working and the usual. They've buried a lot of parents that last few years and that's been sad but I think they're doing well. Grandpa Thacker is still doing great. His birthday is this summer and he'll be 90! I think there is a big Michigan bash planned so we'll have to figure out how to get there :)
Uncle Brian's been in Hawaii suffering through some work related task. Jealous!
Michael is doing awesome in school and is now thinking of medical school, he's really smart so I am sure he'll do great. Jess just marched in the Rose Parade. We watched, on the TV, and were excited to see her band.
Who am I forgetting?
Oh me, I took the car for an oil change this morning. I'm working on a mat for DH that I promised him for Christmas and my e-mail has been down for three days and it's starting to annoy me.
Caught up. Our big, loud, crazy, borg family :)...the only thing I'd change is I wish I looked like 7 of 9.

middle of the week

Today was my turn to do snack in Kindergarten. I brought my Three Little Pigs book and read it, then that ate pigs in blankets and drank capri-suns. The kiddos were excited to see me and said "we always love when you come!" Brother was happy too :)

Today was friend day here. H brought Alexa home with her to play until Activity Days. They had a fun time on the Wii. Now Brother has Mason over. I got him when I dropped off H and A. On the way home I was listening to them in the back seat. Mason was telling about his Wii. Brother said "well we have a Wii too, actually Mom got it for Christmas but she mostly shares if we are good". Which cracked me up :)

I'm making rolls tonight. It's a new recipe so hopefully it will turn out well.

it's not fair

This cute family is getting new neighbors.....

These two. They will live houses apart from each other.

...and I, I will be.....1193.21 miles away WahHHHH!

FHE Fun

Today was warm and sunny. After school we played basketball and made milk shakes. Then Papa and I went for a walk with the kids.
(note to self: horizontal stripes = not your friend)


We had turkey tacos for dinner, which were yummy. Then it was time for happy family night.


Lucy got dressed for the event, since we are very formal around here. We sang songs and melted on the floor a lot of times.

For our lesson we got into teams and played Book of Mormon Charades.

Can you guess??

Papa and J were Nephi getting the plates. J played Laban and Zoram :)


E and DH did Ammon~ of course.

S and I did the Brother of Jared, Lucy sang Twinkle Twinkle :)

Grandma and H told the story of Abinidi. Then we made more milk shakes, put the kids to bed and the grown ups went to play Wii.

matchy match

home squeezed goodness

Last night's dinner groups was so fun. I am hoping that we will have one more pot luck style with all the couples together but I am waiting on some dates and permission to use our building instead of some one's home, that aside, last night, like all our dinner group nights was fun. I always love to go to some one's home and see where they live and eat the yummy food they make (and it is always yummy) and to visit and "play". Last night Willy made home squeezed limeade that was so refreshing and delicious. It matched the homemade everything else that was also delightful. Some of my favorite friends were there, which made it fun. We giggled at silly things and played Wii and I held baby M, who is sweet and little and new while his mother (the queen of boxing) knocked out all the men in the room who dared to take up gloves against her :)

I like early church. I feel like we have a whole day left after. Tonight we are having the elders for dinner so we did some cooking then Grandma and I went upstairs to watch a movie with the little kids. DH gets home earlier too and now he is out in the yard playing catch with H and E. Reverently of course :)

a bloggy award!!

My BestImaginaryFriendYvonne gave me this fun award. She says she visits every day! and I'm always glad she came!

HhhMM, where do I read every day?
Pioneer Woman, my favorite post was her ballet positions for cows...that cracked me up for some crazy reason.
My friend Joy, I love her Thursday Thirteens
Dani, even though she doesn't write everyday I always look.
And Jen because her little Henry is so cute and it reminds me to be happy that I don't have triplets :)

funny

This guy is funny, he reminds me of that where in the world is what's his name that tap danced in famous places all around the world. What was his name Anna?

After we watched his IkeA living then we clicked on his visiting every Starbucks in Manhattan challenge and J, H, Lu and I watched the entire 10 minutes wondering if he would make it...it's a slow Saturday around here :)

moving, moving,...

Grandma and Papa got all moved. They spent every waking minute this week at their house cleaning and packing and sorting. I helped, many friends in the ward helped, the men helped, DH helped. It was a long week, I am tired and I didn't even do most of the work. Now they have tons of stuff here, probably as much stuff as I just got rid of came back in but mom will sort through and decide what they'll keep and then we'll get rid of the rest. My own personal de-junking is going well too. We still have more to do and I can not even mention the garage but we'll get there.

In the meantime it's not all drudgery. Both S and J need new comforters. J got this cute one today. S got one for Christmas but it fits her queen size bed upstairs and not her twin that's she's on now so I need to see if I can exchange it, if not I'll use it upstairs and let her pick out something she likes for the smaller bed. Maybe in a couple of weeks.

And we need to paint.

"taco" went home. One dog is enough for us :) Tonight is dinner groups, our last one. We may have a combined couples dinner pot luck next month but that's still in the works.

small vent, because really the governement should consider MY schedule in their plans :)

This little plane rules our lives....and it's very wishy washy. It's been very VERY weird knowing that we will move someday, for flight testing, but not knowing when that day will be.
It's a good thing that my first real grown up job, which I got by some miracle since I had not one actual qualification for except I was a breathing human and I had a college degree (in social science ~ feel free to laugh out loud if you need to) and really truly any degree opens doors..it's just a fact (note to any of my offspring who might be reading this today, or at any future date get a good education...you will never regret it love, great grandma MeMe), was at Edwards Air Force Base working for a company called TYBRIN, that did contract work for the F-22 (coincidentally at that exact same moment my DH, was working for the same company at it's only other office in FL~ funny, and we didn't even know each other). My job was to be the scheduler. I learned a lot about how government contracts work, and how dates slide and how money is spent. Without that experience I would have had a very hard time believing how fluid things are and how Oct. doesn't necessarily mean this year. And I would have probably thought that DH just says he works on airplanes and that he's really sneaking off to flip burgers somewhere and that we are really never moving.

Anyway, long story short, all though he assured me that we are moving this summer, and I foolishly thought okay...we really don't know. And now we are again somewhat in the air. I would rather just live here and then someday when he has a paper in his hand with a date and a price on it say oh, we are leaving in two months lets get ready. All this ambiguity is stressful.

The good news is we'll probably be able to enjoy another summer in our pool! yeah! and the girls can try out for drill team for next year and maybe even be here to do it.
And the de cluttering we have been doing is so much fun and I feel so happy and great about things leaving our house and getting things more in order so I will continue to do that and then IF we ever need to actually move, instead of just talk about it, we will be ready.

My only wish is that we had never said anything to the kids because it's hard for them and it's hard for their friends. It's better to be here and live in the present and just see what happens instead of being emotionally wrapped up in leaving.

so from now on I will give no heed to the little plane that called wolf and in a very zen like manner (or Scarlet O'hara depending on your prespective) say que sera sera, what will be will be but for now I live in TX.

I guess spelling is not my strong suit either :)

I Scored a 73%!

Find your Match at JustSayHi

shocker

I SCORED A 86%

Want to be a x-ray technician?

clean or waste time???

63%

Find your Match at JustSayHi

what did I choose?

National Delurking Day

I'd love it if you stopped by and said hi!

a lovely poem I found

No Children!
by Edgar Guest
No children in the house to play--
It must be hard to live that way!
I wonder what the people do
When night comes on and the work is through,
With no glad little folks to shout,
No eager feet to race about,
No youthful tongues to chatter on
About the joy that's been and gone?
The house might be a castle fine,
But what a lonely place to dine!

No children in the house at all,
No fingermarks upon the wall,
No corner where the toys are piled--
Sure indication of a child.
No little lips to breathe the prayer
That God shall keep you in His care,
No glad caress and welcome sweet
When night returns you to your street;
No little lips a kiss to give--
Oh, what a lonely way to live!

No children in the house!
I fearWe could not stand it half a year.
What would we talk about at night,
Plan for and work with all our might,
Hold common dreams about and find
True union of heart and mind,
If we two had no greater care
Than what we both should eat and wear?
We never knew love's brightest flame
Until the day the baby came.

And now we could not get along
Without their laughter and their song.
Joy is not bottled on a shelf,
It cannot feed upon itself,
And even love, if it shall wear,
Must find its happiness in care;
Dull we'd become of mind and speech
Had we no little ones to teach.
No children in the house to play!
Oh, we could never live that way!

the Waltons~ 2008

We're going to be the Waltons now I guess. Mom and Dad are moving in with us for 6 months while dad finishes teaching and they get ready to go on a mission. Their house sold and they are moving out the end of the week. We've been getting ready, both at our home and at theirs.

Today we had another "packing party", lots of people came and I think they are about ready. We have a load of stuff to bring over here, some things to be thrown away and everything else is boxed up and ready to be loaded.

First Day of Preschool

Lucy got to start preschool this week. She was so excited! In the morning she got her purple sweat suit with the cute ice cream cone on it and her purple socks and her sparkly pink shoes on. Then she waited. Finally it was 9:15 and we could go. She has her backpack that she will take each day to school. Inside is her very own purple pencil box, with crayons, scissors, a pencil and some glue in it. Also a back up pull~up just in case and a baggie of wipes. She danced out the door and said "are we there yet" several times then we were there and she ran in to play...then didn't want me to leave :)

I stayed for a few minutes and then she was ready. When I went to pick her up Kathleen said she did great and played with the kids are participated everything. There are 7 kids in our group so I will teach one week out of 7. The age span of kids is kind of funny. Two of the girls are turning 5 this year, one is turning 4 this month, 3 turned 3 last year and Lucy is turning 3 this month. We have 5 girls and 2 boys. Very fun.

And, how weird is this, I was driving home and realized that twice a week all the kids would be in school (or something school like) with places to go and things to do that have nothing to do with me...and I, I will have free time.

any guesses what I did with said free time yesterday?

I went to the car wash, cleaned my kitchen and made a phone call.

She must have had a very fun time because she fell asleep in the afternoon (which never happens) and woke up crying to go to preschool.

And this morning she got up and asked to go to preschool :)

Monday Night madness

Ohio State (my DH's alma mater) is playing LSU for the something championship. This is a BIG deal at our house. Abba and Uncle Tom and Michael went to the game. DH is watching upstairs. In honor of the big night Lucy and I made buckeyes..they aren't done yet. I am using a recipe of Grandma B's and who know they were for 500? Anyway, they'll be done and if "we" win tonight DH can take some to work tomorrow. If not, well, he can anyway because the last thing we (read: I) need around the house are 500 chocolaty peanut buttery 40,00 calorie per treat snacks sitting around.

In other news the upstairs is this close to completely de-cluttered. I have one closet to go and then it's done. Whoo Hoo!! Now, if I don't allow the children to go up there it might stay that way :)

We've made some progress downstairs as well but there is ways to go.

Kids went back to school today. Lucy starts preschool tomorrow~she is thrilled.

Weekend was good. We go to church at 8:30 now, which I think I'll like. I have a new Sunday school class. They were a lot of fun. Lu, who missed being a Sunbeam by 20 days, was sad to go to nursery and not with her friends, but hopefully she'll get used to it. H and E both liked their new teachers.

This morning Joy and I spent some time on the phone getting our last dinner groups organized. I have a few phone calls left but mostly I am just waiting to put out fires and then decide if we will have a big group dinner next month or call it done.

New Years goals report, some are going better than others. House is going well. Diet...maybe I'll start tomorrow. And now I have to read 10 pages a day for the next month and then back to 7 to make it to the end :)

*okay, I have no idea what is going on with the funky font size in the middle but I have buckeyes to dip and to root for so I guess it will have to do.

saturday is a special day...

Today was one of those beautiful "early spring" days that we get to enjoy here in the Lone Star State. We have great weather often (as long as you like it hot).

This morning J and I went to meet with a piano teacher for an interview. We liked her and I think J will start up with her next week...we have to make our final decision still.

Then we went and got E and G and took them to the mall. J bought some shoes and some cute clothes. I let the kids play on the play land. Meanwhile DH and H started back to karate; which they had been missing.

After we got back the big girls got ready for a temple trip and we headed out to the park. E's friend Kaden from Kindergarten had e-mailed over the break about having a play date there (well, his mom did) and this was our agreed upon afternoon.

We couldn't have picked better. It was so lovely outside. Our friend Teresa was there with her two boys too so that was fun for H, she had someone to play with as well.

That daredevil swinging so high is EC. It would have been a perfect day, except we came home and found our house guest "Taco" had ripped up the carpet in S's room where he somehow had gotten trapped after we left. (sigh and groan)

Meme

First I have to post the rules:
Link to the person who tagged you; I was tagged by my cute friend Playful Professional :)


Leave a comment on their blog so that their readers can visit yours;


Post the rules on your blog;


Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself on your blog;


Tag 7 random people at the end of your post;


Include links to their blogs;


Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.



7 Random Things About My Pets:

1. The first pet I remember having was a gray cat named Heidi. We got her when I was small, not yet in school and she lived a long time. She was a great cat and we loved her. She came with us to San Fransisco every time we went and was a good traveler. I remember one time we came home and it had snowed, which was very unusual. We opened the car door and out jumped Heidi, who was very shocked and not a bit pleased to find herself belly deep in snow. LOL


2. My brothers had all kinds of crazy pets when we were growing up.


3. Michael had a conure named Captain, who ate our wall and wall paper and who would sit on Michael's shoulder while he rode around on his bike. He was a cool bird.


4. The snakes and tarantulas and other creepy crawlies were also kind of cool. One time Michael found a sick snake and we had to nurse it back to health.


5. Dad loves fish. He had some that "he trained" to follow his finger.


6. As an adult I have had a long list of dogs. Grizz, was Mark's Newfoundland ~ a huge dog. We also had a husky named Payton and two blue tick hounds called Chelsea and Blu. Later we had a dog named Pineapple. DH had Mischa when we got married and now we have Millie. And for a very short while we had Jack.


7. Other pets the kids have had were turtles (Michelangelo and Donatello), many fish, a couple hamsters~ Tasha and the others whose names I don't remember, Sara the cockatiel and Albus and Minerva the parakeets and Ivan the cat who couldn't get house broken. I think that's all.
   

I don't know if that was weird but it was pet related. Hope you enjoy. I am going to tag... my two sisters, one who loves animals and the other who does not :) my two daughters, Yvonne, Joy and Good Life!

reminiscing

I got to thinking about all the walking I did when I was young. I can't imagine letting my own kids walk around town like that but it was a different time.

All the little kids in our neighborhood would walk to school together. Alec and I would start at our house and along the way we'd be joined by other kids. We walked down Jenner and at each corner that intersected it we'd meet up with whoever lived on that street and we'd all make our way down the .71 of a mile (Love mapquest) to our Elementary school. It was a lot of fun. I remember loving the way the air smelled in the early morning and being excited about a new day. Then at the end of the day we'd head back. Sometimes stopping to sit and chat on each corner before saying good-bye to that friend. It must have taken us a while, but our parents must not have worried because I don't remember it ever being an issue.



In High School I rode the bus to school my Freshman and Sophomore year. My friend Maybelle Begay, who was part of the Lamanite Exchange Program, didn't' like to ride it home so we often walked. That was 2.2 miles. We'd walk down main street and look at the shops, then through the desert until we hit our homes. We'd talk along the way and went by quickly.



My BFF, Lana, and I walked every where all the time. We walked to our piano lessons, a little over a mile away down Ave I, a very busy street. She'd have her lesson and I'd watch Debbie's little kids in the bedroom. Then we'd switch. She became a good pianist, I became a good baby-sitter. Then we'd walk home and we'd always stop at Winchells for a donut to fortify us for the trek home.
We'd walk to the library (a mile and a half) every week and spend an hour in the stacks picking out books. We had a method. We'd walk up and down each row and pick out titles that sounded interesting. Then we'd take it to our favorite table and look through them making 3 stacks~ yes, you can look at it, what was I thinking. After we were done we'd switch middle stacks in case the other wanted to take something from there, then we'd reshelve (in the proper place) all the rejected books of the week, check out our armful and walk home. Often we'd go to one of our homes lay on the bed and start reading together. On the way home we'd talk about the books and wonder which we would like, or which we would read first (yes...we were BIG nerds). Sometimes we'd switch stacks mid week, depending on how the reading was going.

I walked to the hospital to be a candy striper (although my mom or dad picked me up after)

We walked to the movies, to Nauglass to buy Ice Cream Sundaes, to the stable where Lana kept her horse and I was always trying to borrow one.

One time we decided to walk to the Palmdale Library (10.2 miles away). We made it but Lana's dad had to come drive us home :)

And sometimes we'd walk out to Apollo Park to go fishing with her brother Adam. That was a long walk too. (4.3 miles)

We'd walk around the desert looking for stuff, or to a park or where ever. Later when Lana got her horse we'd ride ( I was really lucky because even though I didn't have a horse our friend Carol Markham did~ and she didn't care for that stubborn pony at all and was THRILLED that I would "exercise Velvet" for her and I was THRILLED to do it so it was a perfect match...BTW, Carol later served a mission to Ireland, which I think is very cool) ..which was so much more fun but didn't work at all for the library or piano. It was fun to ride through the drive through and get our ice cream though :)

I am kind of sad my kids can't have that kind of freedom, it was great fun and I'm sure great for my mom since we were out of the house.

I do remember complaining about our walk to the elementary school until one summer, when I was going into 6th grade our whole family took a trip to France for the summer to meet the relatives and so dad could do genealogy. (different post). I remember going to see the house he grew up in. We drove into the middle of no where~ a very beautiful and lush no where but still, got out of the car and crossed a stream and hiked up a very long windy dirt path to a "house". It was small and dark and had a dirt floor and dad said "oh look, they've made some improvements since I lived here...the improvement was a light bulb hanging down on some electrical wiring. He was excited to see his old home and showed us where he slept (with the rats) and where he played. We had a fabulous time looking around and on the long trek back I asked him how he got to school, he said by walking down this path and across the stream and over to the village. Alec and I were very impressed and I resolved to never complain about having to walk anywhere again....and I didn't.

What I learned from an 8 year old

I was about H's age when Jimmy Carter was elected President. I remember walking to school with my friends and talking about it and I remember thinking I was a democrat when we talked about it at school because SHHH this is a big secret, my dad is. Although I don't think he votes on party lines and often votes republican. Still it never occurred to me that she, and her friends, listened and had political opinions.

Emma, a cute little girl with a big smile, a great singing voice and a chatter a mile a minute personality, who is H's friend moved to Mexico not too long ago. Her family is back for Christmas vacation, staying with Grandma, and much to the great delight of the 8 years old pack in our ward invited H and the other little tornadoes to their home for an "un sleep-over". We carpooled and I had 5 girls in the car with me on the drive over. It took an extra long time because the parking lot we like to call 820 was backed up with an accident and was even S.L.O.W.E.R than usual. So I kept quiet and listened...and it was so much fun. Emma told fabulous stories of life in Mexico which had the girls roaring with laughter. They talked about webkins (the newest craze...H has two, Olivia claims to know someone who has SEVENTEEN! :) ), school, High School Musical, pajama pants, ear piercings...the usual. Then I heard a little voice say:
"my dad says if Huckabee wins we are moving to the Bahamas"
"why?"
"he's a crook"
"My dad likes Mitt Romney, we're going to vote for him"
"Mine too"
"Huckabee lies...."
"I'm glad we live in Mexico, then it doesn't matter who wins"
"Yes it does, who ever is the President of the US is like the president of the whole world!"
"Where are the Bahamas?"
"I think they are by Hawaii...'cause they are an island"
"I think they're by Mexico"
"Oh good, then you can come visit us"
"You should live in the Holiday Inn"
"When do we know who won?"
"I think next week"
"No, I think it's longer"

Me: "Not until November"
"Next Christmas?!!" (losing interest instantly)
"Who got a Wii this year....raise your hand" and they're off. It's much like following a stream of consciousness, a collective one, I guess.

And that is the political musing of 5 8 year old girls...anyone care to hear their views on Brittney Spears?

(they're aghast and ashamed for her)

Back from the camp-out

The girls had a good time! At least they smelled like they did and they were smiling.

Notice how they are all wearing the warm jackets and hats their mothers lovingly forced them to take.

my OLF Yvonne sent me this great idea for the next lesson

Week two's lesson (click to see~ for some reason you can't tell it's a link with this template

ROFLOL ~ good to know I'm not alone

a sneak peek at next weeks FHE lesson...

VideoJug: How To Clean A Toilet

new year, new goals (mom don't read)

It's that time again. The hopeful or discouraging time of year when I feel compelled to make myself better.
Every year I think I am going to lose weight. I actually am really good at losing 5 lbs, even 10. I probably lost 60 last year. Unfortunately it was the same 5 over and over again. They leave and then come back with friends. Sad. This year I am turning 40 and so far I have spent 2 decades not weighing what I want. Well more than that if you count when I was a teenager and thought I was oh so fat and got full on a glass of milk, but realistically I can't count then because I didn't even tip 100 until I was pregnant with Dani so even if I thought I was fat I couldn't have possibly been. Too bad I didn't appreciate it at the time. I blame my mother (who unfortunately reads my blog and now I need to institute a new rule that she can't take anything personally that she reads here, or comment in a sad voice about it or she can not read and just live real life with me instead ~the women in our family have a history of bad dieting , that's all I'm saying) After she was born I got back down to a size 3, not my prepregnacy 0 and it's been fatty pants ville every since. But this year, this year might be different. For one thing I am not even shooting for a 0 or a 3 or a 7 any more. I would LOVE to be a 9 or a 12. We'll see. Mostly I want to feel good and have energy and be fun.

Also I want to organize my home. We've been making great progress. I, once upon a time, was neat and organized. That was three kids and one husband ago. Now we suffer from clutter. Stuff clutter, body clutter, mind clutter. I suggested, and was shocked and pleased when DH agreed, that we get a dumpster and get rid of stuff we don't use or need. I am very excited. Don't tell anyone, cause it's a secret and he will vehemently disagree and put the blame squarely on my shoulders, but my DH is a pack rat. He attaches such sentimental value to everything.... I don't get it really. We have a lot of people and a lot of stuff so everyone needs to streamline. I am not talking about getting rid of stuff we use and love, or even things that are family heirlooms and really nice lovely things as well as sentimental mementos. I'm just suggesting getting rid of some of it.

Also I want to read all the standard works. It's only 7 pages a day for a year. One year Anna and I tried and she made it and I, slacker, did not.

That's probably good enough.

Oh, I also want to be a cheerful mover. When we moved here, to TX, as foreign a place as any California girl could ever come to, I was happy and excited to come. Really except for a few close friends and a few favorite restaurants and proximity to the ocean I don't miss it. So I expect it will be the same...except that I love TX. I really feel at home here and I love our friends and there is so much to do and we can afford a nice house and ....

ridiculous

lately, like the last twenty years since the time my darling first born girl learned to start talking at the uber precocious young age of around 8 months so technically 19 years and 5 months, I have had the most ridiculous conversations.
Now at this point much of it is taken for granted and hardly noticed by my seasoned and not always coherent mommy brain. But sometimes I am still astonished. Like this morning, 6:30 am, dark and cold and admittedly I was somewhat in shock to see that hour after a week and a half of vacation and blissfully sleeping in to 7 or 8 or even 8:30 on a couple of lucky days so I was more easily shocked than when I am fully awake still I was arguing with J about whether or not she should take a jacket and hat and gloves on her camping trip. She didn't want to. I, the voice of reason, insisted that she did.

She said she wouldn't be cold. Ridiculous.

We were passionately whispering back and forth
"mom, everyone is bringing a sweatshirt, it's not going to be cold blah blah blah (fill in with arguments so anorexic that they are not worth writing down)"
"J, it's cold outside, it's below freezing, you get cold watching TV in our heated house, etc"

Finally the mommy trump card
"If you don't take your jacket you can not go." I know I can't make her wear it, and that's fine with me...but if she has it at least she has the choice of putting it on.

cookies, kleenex and bags of trash

New year's off with a bang :) We actually haven't been doing anything too exciting. Yesterday the littles wanted to make cookies so we spent some time baking...and eating.

Last night S and I went out for her birthday. She didn't want a party this year, instead she wanted to go on a date with her mom (lucky lucky me!!). We went to Olive Garden then to see "PS I love You" which was sad and good and a total chick flick. I think there were two men in the theater and when the movie was over they walked out behind their girlfriends sadly shaking their heads while the girlfriends wiped their eyes and with a loud sniff said "sorry I made you come...I should have made it a girls night"
We had a very fun time visiting and laughing and walking to the car arm in arm shivering from the cold and comparing the merits of the various hunky leading men.

We also spent a lot of time yesterday de-cluttering (can anyone shout out resolution?) and moving stuff around. The venturing crew is having a garage sale/fund raiser and the timing is perfect...we clean out, sort, throw away and take the good stuff straight to Tori's garage!

We have many, many rooms to go but I think this is our year!

Today DH had to go back to work. We had a nice long break with him and the kids still have a couple days off, which is fun, but his vacation is over. Brother had a lucky day, he was invited to go play with his friend C and then to his friend Mason's. So he had two play dates in one day. When the phone rang this morning he was so thrilled and said he'd been waiting for someone to invite him to play...and then the almost never happens but oh so lucky luck, two friends in one day call. AND he has a friend to play with tomorrow and Friday~ that might be better than Christmas :)

H had activity days today. They are making masks and the girls had so much fun. I went to pick them up but they weren't ready so I got to watch for awhile and I was glad to see them so gooey and messy and happy. Gretchen is the most awesome Activity Day leader EVER! Tomorrow she gets to play at Emmaline's and Friday she has an un-sleepover so it'll be pretty good week for her too.

Lu wants to have friends and to go play too. She didn't used to but now she's getting bigger. I need to find her a preschool or something. Once a week play group isn't enough any more. She always, always asks to "go to baby school".

I've been reading this book, it's not my usual type but I am enjoying it. It's the story of one woman's journey to "self discovery". So far I am through the Italy part which was where she ate a lot of delicious Italian food and described it in such a way that I had to make Spaghetti Carbonera tonight. (not as good as I had hoped but not bad) and made me long to spend a month in Rome. I am so glad that I know who I am and where I am going and the meaning of life, still it's interesting to read and she writes well.

Festivities

The girls had a good time getting ready for the dance. They helped each other with hair, make up and finding something to wear.

They danced, drank Dr Pepper, played the piano, ran around, laughed, went on line.....

Then they went to the dance.
Everyone had a good time. Some of the girls complained after that lots of people didn't dance. Which I don't get because when I was a girl....

After the dance was over a lot of the chikitas went to "sleep over" at Emma's. Lucky Tori :)